Bipolar Disorder
By: Gracen and Seth
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Disorder is a chronic mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to think clearly.
Fact
Bipolar Disorder is a type of mood disorder, however , unlike in depression, the problem in Bipolar Disorder is in the brain's regulation.
Statistic
Less than 2% of people have Bipolar Disorder, and it is almost equally as prevalent among men and woman.
Fact
These cycles of depression and Mania may be frequent or infrequent. Typical teenage strife does not cause Bipolar Disorder or any mental illness.
Signs and Symptons:
People with Bipolar Disorder experience unusually intense emotional states that occur in distinct periods called mood episodes.
Age of on-set:
Bipolar Disorder usually begins in the late teens and early twenties.
Causes:
Genetics, stress and brain structure are all causes of Bipolar Disorder.
Related Disorders:
Bipolar 1 Disorder, Bipolar 2 Disorder, Cyclothymic or Cyclothymia are all types of disorders related to Bipolar Disorder.
Diagnosis and treatment:
To be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, a person must have experienced mania or hypomania. The doctor may preform a physical examination, conduct an interview and order lab tests. Bipolar Disorder cannot be cured but, it can be treated effectively long term. But because it is a life long illness, long term continuous treatment is needed to control symptoms.
Examples of behaviors:
A person with Bipolar Disorder may have distinct or depressed states. A person with mixed episodes experiances both extremes simultaneously or in rapid sequence. They may also have inflated self-esteem or gradually decreased need for sleep. There may also be unusual talkativeness.
A myth about Bipolar Disorder:
Bipolar Disorder is just another name for mood swings. This is one thing people may think about Bipolar Disorder but, it is not true.